Archers thread #178: Ambridge or Scambridge? Discuss The Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

All views on The Archers welcome here! New blood welcomed, and of course we are always delighted to welcome back former or occasional listeners/posters. We don't all agree on all points, although we do mostly try to be civil about it. Most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you fancy Mucky Mick, or other unusual views.

Spoilers: not on this thread, please! We don't wait for the omnibus to discuss the weeknight episodes, but we do try our best to avoid cross-contamination from https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/4636789-the-archers-spoilers-thread-7-cant-wait-for-702pm-join-us-here, where spoilers are positively welcomed!

For newer listeners, lurkers or those who just have no idea what we're talking about, @DadDadDad has created this useful thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3557323-For-Archers-fans-a-guide-to-acronyms-on-the-long-running-discussion-threads-and-any-other-meta-thread-questions-you-may-have - BOOP point for him! (See thread for explanation.)

The scars from Scambridge week will take some healing. Most of us felt we were the ones scammed - where was The Archers we know and (very occasionally) love?

Anyway, onwards and - almost certainly not - upwards. Will it be the best Christmas ever in Ambridge? Do we still care? Over to you!

At least we were spared the proposal.

Rochelle sounded very cheerful and ordinary, though I don't think "the kiddies" were mentioned, were they?

What? Rochelle turned up and I missed it? I'll have to listen tomorrow.

The ‘kiddies’ - Harper & Noah - were with Benny / Bennie for the day. (Unless those are the names of pets?)

They're going to kill Brian, aren't they?

Brian still sounding awfully breathless.

Merry Christmas, btw!

Yes, I fear they are going to kill off Brian. I'd much rather they had him retire, run off with Miranda to a more agreeable climate and either phone it in from time to time (like Shula), or simply infuriate his ghastly family by giving his shares in the business to Ruairi (or a home for recalcitrant cats) and refusing to engage with their nonsense ever again.

That said, love of Jakob seems to have turned Kate into a decent human being.

Rochelle sounded very cheerful and ordinary

Rochelle sounded rougher than a badger’s arse.

Arf! Depends where you live, I suppose? Around here she'd be considered a posh bitch!

Oh dear, Brian 🫣. Didn't his family notice he could hardly breathe!!! I think his days may be numbered………….

It struck me that, as usual, most of the effort for those goody bags was contributed by Carrie. You can bet she both knitted the ferrets and made the mince pies, and she probably packed the bags as well.

Yep. I loathe Eddie.

I thought Rochelle sounded like a royal PITA, frankly. Will be interesting (I suppose) to see what pans out.

Rochelle was rude, snapping at Joy for asking too many questions.

wtf does she expect, she’s been off radar for years

i thought their conversation sounded very awkward. Strange of Rochelle to snap at being asked where she was living, particularly when she’s just turned up unannounced having clearly never visited Joy there before. Seems like natural conversation to me in the circumstances.
Also odd that she went along with the hospital lie when Mick mentioned it.

Well Rochelle has turned up and I really couldn't have cared less. Joy and Mick were minor characters and now they are on the Christmas day Archers, what about all the other Actors who have been in TA for years and we never heard a peep for ages. Rochelle is going to be trouble and show up all Joy's fibs and that's about it. I think TW just used Rochelle because they know we are a bit disappointed with the story lines and they thought oh let's shock the listener on Christmas day by having Rochelle turn up.

I think the the TA team overestimate how much we give a shit about Joy and especially Mick!

I’ve had guests so haven’t really been listening. Heard the last minute of last night and have to say any interest in Rochelle has disappeared. If this is becoming the Joy show I’m not sure I’ll start listening again

Joy and Mick were minor characters and now they are on the Christmas day Archers, what about all the other Actors who have been in TA for years and we never heard a peep for ages.

Indeed. How's Christmas going at Lower Loxley, the Stables, anywhere but the housing estate I can't remember the name of where Icky Mick has got his smelly feet under the table?

And I've never cared what happened to Rochelle because we never knew her before she became a mystery iykwim.

BOOP for Christmas in the yurt but I I too fear for Brian ...

Rochelle was only ever interesting when her very existence was a mystery. There's still a mystery about the reason for the rift, but I've lost interest in that.

Yes, clear signs that Brian is going to be deaded soon, alas. As well as breathless, he's been sweetness and light ever since he was placated with the knitted ferrets. A constant stream of Famous Last Words and loveliness, in fact, that his adoring family can repeat ad nauseam.

As for Brookfield, one can only imagine the Christmas day kitchen shenanigans but no doubt we'll be hearing about it all in a day or two.

Will they be having a Hunt Ball at Grey Gables? Is Lower Loxley doing Murder Mystery Weekends? Did no one get arrested outside The Bull for drunk driving?

I can't get over the cheesy cracker story line or how Rochelle and Mick were so keen to pull the marked cracker. I totally forgot to put our fancy crackers out yesterday.

So was it mentioned that mick had seen Rochelle when he went looking when Joy was in hospital?

He didn’t see her, @Bruisername - in the hospital Joy told him Rochelle had visited but he’d missed seeing her. That was a lie.

I’m mildly interested to know where Rochelle has been. Joy has always given the impression that she holds herself at least partly to blame for whatever happened. Rochelle appeared to be separated from her children’s other parent, and her mother didn’t know where she’s been living or whether she is currently employed - so a period in prison, or some other form of detention is still a possibility. I can’t think what else would have caused this combination of circumstances / uncertainties - particularly given Joy’s responses to instances of difficulty in other characters’ lives. Ben and Helen especially.

Oh - did you mean when he found her ‘address’ in Joy’s contacts? (Wasn’t that because of Joy’s birthday or something?) I recall he went to a house but was turned away by a man who denied all knowledge of Rochelle.

Yes that’s what I meant - I wondered if it had been mentioned or mick recognised her

did she drive to the house?

I really can’t be doing with another ‘baddie’ character

Yes, clear signs that Brian is going to be deaded soon, alas. As well as breathless, he's been sweetness and light ever since he was placated with the knitted ferrets. A constant stream of Famous Last Words and loveliness, in fact, that his adoring family can repeat ad nauseam.

I’d certainly far rather they deaded him than have much more of this uncharacteristic sappiness from him.

Another here who would have preferred any other characters on Christmas Day than Joy and Mick, but hey ho, we had Brian happy in a yurt 🙂

I like Joy and Mick, I enjoyed the Gavin and Stacey style high comedy of Joy scrabbling around under the table to retrieve the “joke” and I am genuinely intrigued about Rochelle. I also loved the vision of Kate’s Scandi yurt.

I thought that “Harper and Noah” were spot-on as names for “the kiddies”.

I think that Rochelle was a victim of domestic abuse who refused to listen to Joy’s concerns about her partner.